Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin reacts to a call during the second half of the Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on Dec. 28, 2016, in Houston.

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin reacts to a call during the second half of the Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on Dec. 28, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley /Houston Chronicle

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Hezekiah Jones (9) of the Stafford Spartans dives into the end zone in the first half for a touchdown against the Bridge City Cardinals in a high school football Class 4A Division I regional semifinal on Nov. 25, 2016 at Maddry Stadium in Channelview. less

Hezekiah Jones (9) of the Stafford Spartans dives into the end zone in the first half for a touchdown against the Bridge City Cardinals in a high school football Class 4A Division I regional semifinal on Nov. ... more

Reagan’s Kellen Mond looks to pass against O’Connor during first half action on Aug. 28, 2015 at Heroes Stadium.

Reagan’s Kellen Mond looks to pass against O’Connor during first half action on Aug. 28, 2015 at Heroes Stadium.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News

National Signing Day a day of peculiarities, and star sightings

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COLLEGE STATION — National signing day is often filled with peculiarities from high school football players angling for one last sliver of spotlight before beginning the college grind.

One player Wednesday announced his collegiate intentions in a video from the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Another threw a Mississippi State hat across the room in feigned disgust during a news conference announcing his destination, and then placed a Mississippi hat on his head.

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Texas A&M’s biggest peculiarity on signing day came from a guy six years removed from high school, however, as former quarterback Johnny Manziel showed up on campus, during one of coach Kevin Sumlin’s busiest mornings of the year.

“It was kind of a hectic deal, because we have the fax machines going, the phones going and then in walks Johnny,” Sumlin said Wednesday, in discussing his 2017 class with a 2011 twist.

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Texas A&M

Team rankings: 10th Rivals; 9th Scout

Analysis: Aggies needed linebackers and quarterbacks and signed a handful of both. LB Anthony Hines is the type of defender who can make an instant impact on a unit desperately needing it, and QB Kellen Mond will compete for the starting gig against redshirt freshman Nick Starkel.

Top prospect: Mond, QB, IMG Academy — A&M didn’t heavily recruit him two years ago, because it had a couple of young five-star prospects in Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray. Mond, a former Reagan star, is an early enrollee.

Best of the rest: Hines, LB, Plano East — Aggies have been in search of quality linebackers about as long as Kevin Sumlin has been coach. Hines was the AP’s defensive player of the year in the state after collecting 220 tackles as a senior.

Signing List

Manziel, an NFL bust at only 24 who vows he’s sober, was headed to Houston, where he plans to sign autographs for money as part of Super Bowl LI festivities.

The Aggies are hopeful that their next Manziel, who last suited up for A&M in 2013, is part of this new class in freshman and Reagan-ex Kellen Mond, minus Manziel’s partying.

Mond headlines a class of 27 ranking 12th nationally by 247Sports, and one appearing to fill A&M’s needs across the board. The Aggies lost starting defensive ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall to the NFL, and in their place signed five defensive linemen, including three ends in Michael Clemons, Tyree Johnson and Ondario Robinson.

The drop off when Hall and Garrett exited last year’s games - especially Garrett - was significant, so the incoming trio likely will earn every chance to contribute immediately on defense.

“In losing two really elite defensive ends, and to get out and dip into the junior-college ranks and get one of the top pass rushers in the country (in Clemons), and to get another highly recruited and high-motor guy in Tyree Johnson helps fill those needs,” Sumlin said.

The class includes five offensive linemen, five defensive linemen, four receivers, four defensive backs, three linebackers, two tight ends, two quarterbacks, a running back and a designated athlete.

Sumlin had earned many of the pledges from the 2017 class over the past year and then the group - which dubbed itself “GigEmGang17” - stuck together for the most part the rest of the way.

The only surprise was a pleasant one for the Aggies: the signing-day addition of defensive lineman Joshua Rogers of Houston Christian. In addition to Mond, a five-star prospect by Rivals.com, the class is highlighted by linebacker Anthony Hines, receiver Jhamon Ausbon and safety Derrick Tucker, among others.

In other A&M news, Sumlin said spring drills will start on March 1. Also, senior running back James White, who wasn’t expected to contend for playing time this fall, has entered the Lamar University program as a graduate transfer.

In addition, Sumlin replaced longtime strength coach Larry Jackson in January with Mark Hocke, then an assistant at Florida State and a former Georgia head strength coach. Finally, secondary coach Terry Joseph has left for the same position at North Carolina, and Sumlin said he expects to name a replacement within the next couple of weeks.